"I"ll wait, Patty," and Van Reypen spoke cheerfully. "I"ll wait, Little Girl, because I think a love like mine is bound to win at last. And I know you"re too young yet to make up your mind. But, Patty, there isn"t anybody else, is there?"
"Anybody else what?"
"Anybody else who likes you as much as I do. Is there?"
"Now, Phil, how could I tell that? When people say they love you heaps and heaps, you never know quite how much to believe, or quite how much is just the influence of the moonlight."
"Well, there"s no moonlight here now. So when I tell you how much I love you, it"s all true. You believe that, don"t you, Little Girl?"
"Yes, I believe it. But, Philip, I wish you wouldn"t talk about it to-day. I"m tired of--"
"Of having men tell you how much they love you? Poor little Patty! I"m afraid you"ll have to put up with that all your life."
"Oh, horrible!" and Patty made a wry face. "I suppose some girls like it, but I don"t."
"I"ll tell you a way to avoid it, Patty. Be engaged to me, now,--even if you won"t marry me right away, and then, you see, other men can"t propose to you."
"Do you mean be engaged to you, Phil, without intending EVER to marry you!"
"Well, don"t consider the second question at present. Just be engaged to me, and then we"ll see about it."
"No, I don"t think that would be fair. You make it seem as if being engaged to a man doesn"t mean anything."
"Patty! dearest! DON"T talk like that! It would mean all the world to me. And I"m sure I could make you love me enough to want to marry me, after awhile. If you knew how much I loved you, I"m sure you"d agree that you couldn"t resist that love for long."
Van Reypen looked very handsome and very earnest as he gazed into Patty"s eyes. And Patty looked very sweet and dear as she gazed back at him with a troubled expression on her lovely face.
Then with a sudden, impulsive gesture she put out both her hands and Philip took them in his own.
"Don"t make me decide now, Phil," she said, and she looked at him with a pathetic smile. "I don"t know what I want. I know I DON"T want to marry you,--or anybody else,--for a long time. And I don"t think I want to be engaged to anybody just yet, either."
"Of course you don"t, you dear little girl," and Van Reypen"s tone was hearty and genuinely helpful. "You"ve only just begun to have your little fling, and enjoy yourself in your own sweet, b.u.t.terfly way. And I"m not going to tease you or cause you one moment"s worry. But, oh, Patty, darling, if ever you have a moment when you want to think about these things, think about me, won"t you, dear? and remember that my whole heart is yours and my whole life is devoted to you. You don"t understand now, what the whole love of a man means, but some day you will, and then, if your heart can turn to me, let it do so, won"t you,--little sweetheart?"
Patty was thrilled, not only by Philip"s words, but by the deep and sincere love shining in his eyes, and which she could not mistake.
"You are very dear to me, Philip," she said, with absolute sincerity; "and I do want you to know how much I appreciate what you have said,--and how grateful I am--"
"Hush, Patty," and Philip smiled gently at her; "I don"t want that. I don"t want your appreciation nor your grat.i.tude for what I feel for you. When you are ready to give me your love, in return for the love I offer you, I want it more than I can tell you. But until then, I want your friendship, the same good comradeship we have always had, but not any grat.i.tude, or foolishness of that sort. Do you understand?"
"I do understand, Phil, and I think you"re splendid! I want to keep on being your friend,--but I don"t want you to think---"
"No, dear; I promise not to think that you are giving me undue encouragement,--for that is what you"re trying to say. And you mustn"t let my hopes or desires trouble you. Always treat me just exactly as you feel toward me, with gay comradeship, with true friendliness, or whatever is in your heart. But always remember that I am still loving you and waiting and hoping."
Philip gave Patty one long look deep into her eyes, and then, with an entire change of manner, he said lightly, "Now, my lady fair, if you are rested, suppose we walk back to the house?"
"I am rested," and Patty jumped up, "so you won"t have to do what I feared,--take me home in a wheelbarrow."
Van Reypen looked at her quizzically.
"Do you remember," he said, "the cla.s.sic poem from which that quotation is taken?"
"It"s from Mother Goose, isn"t it?"
"Yes; but if you recollect, it was a bachelor gentleman who went to London. And when he returned he brought a WIFE home in a wheelbarrow.
I"m not having quite THAT experience."
"No," said Patty, demurely, "but you haven"t any wheelbarrow."
CHAPTER XIX
IN THE RUNABOUT
When they reached the house, Patty went straight up to Mr. Kenerley, and said in a low tone, "Jim, I want to ask a favour of you."
"Anything at all, Patty Pink; anything, to the half of my kingdom!"
"Well, I want the little car, the runabout; and I want to go off for a little while, all by myself."
"Patty! You amaze me! Does this mean a clandestine meeting with a rustic swain? Oh, my child, I thought you were well brought up!"
"Don"t tease me, Jim," and Patty looked really serious. "If you must know, though, it"s because I want to get away from the rustic swains. I want a little time to myself. And if I stay here, the boys are all around; and if I go to my room, the girls won"t give me any peace, and, oh, Jim, DO help me out!"
"Why, of course, you Blessed Infant. Trust all to your Uncle Jim! Come along with me."
The two started down the walk toward the garage, and Adele called out, "Where are you going?"
"Going to elope," Kenerley returned gaily over his shoulder, and they went on.
He took out the little car, which Patty could easily run herself, and putting her in, he jumped in beside her.
"I"ll go with you, past the porch," he said, "and see you outside the gate."
So they dashed by the group on the veranda, not heeding their chaff and once outside the grounds, Jim said, "Are you sure you want to go alone, Patty?"
"Yes, please, Jim. I want to think a little."
"Oh, you GIRL! you needn"t tell ME! some chap"s been making love to you!"
"Nonsense!" but Patty"s blush belied her words.
"I hope it IS nonsense, Patty, dear. You"re too young to have a serious affair yet awhile. Take an old friend"s advice and say no this time."
"Of course I shall. Don"t worry about me, Jim."